Joaquin de Aguero

Joaquin de Aguero (15 November 1816-12 August 1851) was a Cuban independence activist during the 19th century. In 1851, he unsuccessfully led an independence revolt against the Spanish, leading to his execution.

Biography
Joaquin de Aguero was born in Puerto Principe, Spanish Cuba in 1816, and he studied law in Havana before returning home upon hearing of his father's terminal illness; after his father died, he inherited his lands and slaves. In 1843, he freed his slaves and gave each one of them a piece of land so that they could subsist, and this action was considered illegal by the Spanish, and it angered local landowners. In order to avoid problems with the justice system, Aguero went into exile in the United States, but he returned to Cuba three months later. In 1851, he led an uprising in Manigua and proclaimed Cuban independence. However, his revolt lacked support, and, while trying to flee to the United States, he was betrayed to the Spanish, captured, tortured, and executed by firing squad on 12 August 1851.